The Big Snow

Snow started falling yesterday afternoon and is still falling.  We've had 8" already!  The snow was so heavy that it broke a trunk of the tree by our entry.  The snow on the mountains and cacti is beautiful!

El Nino

We had over 20" of rain on the ranch in 2015, a record rainfall for the ranch since we purchased it in 2003.  The ranch continues to be in an El Nino weather pattern and we've had more rain this week, 1.5" and counting in the first week of January.  We had a bit of a respite yesterday morning as the sun came over the mountain.  Some mountain peaks were above the low clouds in the canyons.  By the end of the day, we were back to rain, with a beautiful rainbow over the Winchester Mountains.

Buck Knob Hike

We set off for Buck Knob on Sunday morning, and decided to hike around it rather than up and back.  It was an interesting hike, as we had not come up the southern slope before, steep and rocky, with beautiful vistas in every direction.  Two and a half hours later, we were back home for a late lunch. 

35th Anniversary

Today is our 35th Wedding Anniversary!  We don't ask ourselves, "where has the time gone," because we try so hard to make the most of every day.  We feel very fortunate to have found each other and particularly at this stage in our lives, to be so compatible.  We enjoy the ranch as well as traveling.  We have fun!  We are checking things off our "life list" together.  We cherish moments with our four children and eight grandchildren.  Onward into 2016! 

Winter Ride

Papa rode with Colter this morning, going across the ranch to check on the cows.  Winter Roundup will begin in the next few days, so they want to know where the cows are grazing.  It was cold this morning, low 40's, with the wind blowing 20 mph+.  There was a light dusting of snow on the mountains, with clouds pouring over the top.

Looking Forward and Backward

Papa and I are looking forward to 2016!  We love being at the ranch and are enjoying life!  

We are planning a few short trips and a family trip in July to celebrate Papa's 70th birthday.

We are also thinking of some of our best moments of 2015.  A few of those moments...  

 

Last Sunset of 2015

Christmas Day Hike

Christmas Day was beautiful, breezy and cool.  After a hearty breakfast, we went on a hike.  We dropped down into the canyon nearest the house and walked up the creek toward the mountain.  We turned and made a big circle that took us about two hours.  Just right on Christmas Day!